Moulin-à-Vent 2021 – Château du Moulin-à-Vent

The grapes to produce the Moulin-à-Vent Château du Moulin-à-Vent were harvested by hand and brought to the winery where fermentation took place over a period of 20 days in stainless steel tanks, using 60% whole bunch to add perfume and aromatics to the finished wine. The Château is gradually reducing its use of new oak, to allow the purity of fruit to shine through. As such, the 2018 was aged for 18 months in 80% in stainless steel tanks and 20% in used French oak barrels.

Château du Moulin-à-Vent has 37 hectares across the appellation. The Moulin-à-Vent is a blend of three of their top sites: Moulin-à-Vent, ‘Les Thorins’ and ‘Les Caves’. The vines are densely planted at 10,000 vines per hectare and yields are good, around 34 hectolitres per hectare. The vines are Gobelet trained, south and east-facing and they grow on granitic and poor, sandy soils. In ‘Les Caves’, the average vine age is 80 years, adding a unique depth and concentration to the wine.

Château du Moulin-à-Vent in 1732 was known as Château des Thorins. The property was purchased in 2009 by Jean-Jacques Parinet who invested heavily to revive the estate, with the aim of making the best Moulin-à-Vent. Jean-Jacques began by replanting 70,000 vines, moving to sustainable viticulture and investing in new French oak barrels. Château du Moulin-à-Vent has 37 hectares which include the top single vineyards ‘Champ du Cour’ and ‘La Rochelle‘. The vines are densely planted at 9,000 vines per hectare and yields are low, between 20 –35 hectolitres per hectare, versus the official minimum requirements of 6,000 vines per hectare and yields of 56 hectolitres per hectare for wines of the Moulin-à-Vent appellation.